A Brazilian council candidate has been accused of handing out cocaine with her election leaflets in exchange for votes.

Carme Cristina Lima, 32, was campaigning to become councillor of Itacoatiara, in Brazil’s northern state of Amazonas, when police became suspicious at the crowds reportedly gathering around her car.

A Brazilian council candidate handed out cocaine with campaign leaflets (Thinkstock)

On Sunday, during the morning of the election day, officers spotted a group of people huddled around Ms Lima’s vehicle and searched the car, allegedly finding hundreds of packets of cocaine attached to her candidate leaflets, which included instructions on how to vote for her.

Police chief Daniel Ottoni confirmed the news to Brazil’s TNONline website, saying: ‘There was a large gathering of people around Ms Lima, but when they saw the police they all ran away.

‘The candidate and another man also fled by car but officers caught up with them.

‘According to locals, she had been distributing the drugs since early in the morning, on condition that people vote for her.’

Following the incident, Ms Lima was arrested for electoral corruption and drug dealing.

If convicted her campaign hopes could come to a swift end, as under new Brazilian laws those found guilty of a wide range of crimes are banned from taking up public office for eight years.